cycling: Tour Down Under Stage #1: Caleb Ewan also wins the first WorldTour race

Cycling: Caleb Ewan (Orica-Scott) has now won the first stage of the Tour Down Under, following his victory at the People's Choice Classic criterium . This win marks the first race of the 2017 WorldTour season and continues the impressive winning streak of Australians.

The unbeatable Australians Down Under

Australia is a cycling nation, as evidenced once again at the Tour Down Under. This isn't just because of the numerous fans lining the route, but primarily because the Australians are currently unbeatable on their home turf. Last year, they won the People's Choice Classic criterium and all six stages, along with the overall classification. 2017 looks set to continue in the same vein. Caleb Ewan won the criterium again on Sunday and today's opening stage. He prevailed in the final sprint against Danny Van Poppel (Sky) and Sam Bennett (Bora-Hansgrohe). This allowed the diminutive Australian sprinter to don the leader's jersey after the race, even though today's stage was considerably closer than two days ago. The Unley to Lyndoch route was shortened by one lap due to the heat and completed by the peloton in just under 3,5 hours. In the high temperatures, the riders cooled their necks with ice packs. But it wasn't just the weather that whetted the appetite for more; the race itself lived up to its promise.

Sagan drives for Bennett again

Laurens De Vreese (Astana) was the first breakaway of the WorldTour season. The Belgian escaped early without really attacking. He was able to drive out more than four minutes and secure the lead in the mountains classification on the way. The battle for bonus seconds erupted in the field as every second could be at stake at the end of the week. After the breakaway was caught, Jan Bakelants (Ag2r) tried his hand just before the goal, but this Belgian didn't give in either. Finally, the expected mass sprint took place, which the Orica-Scott team in particular wanted to force. And rightly so, because their captain, Caleb Ewan, once again came out on top. Like the day before yesterday, Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) put himself in the service of Sam Bennett. But this time it wasn't enough for second place because Danny Van Poppel was able to get ahead of him. Nikias Arndt (Sunweb-Giant) finished sixth as the best German. Tomorrow the road from Stirling to Paracombe will be a little less flat. The last 1,5 kilometers are uphill. Two years ago eventual overall winner Rohan Dennis (BMC) won the arrival at Paracombe. So a good omen for tomorrow's winner?

Tour Down Under Stage #1: The result of the day